Stamp or label affixing machine.



J. MULDOON. STAMP OR LABEL APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20. 1911.

1,007,595, Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.-

[NVZNTOR Y -J t D t v Wilmer J. MULDOON.

STAMP 0R LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE;

' APPLICATION FILED JANZZO, 1911. 1,007,595 Patented 00t.31,1911.

2 SHEETSr-SHEET 2.

. I a lmlm u" WITNESSES: j -WW]NVENT0R gag/{WW BY QOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPHCO.,WASHINGTON| D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MULDOON, OF LAKEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO RALPHG.

GARLAND, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

STAMP OR. LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

Application filed January 20, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN MULDoo-N, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lakewood, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp or LabelAfiiXing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction ofthat type of machines designed particularly for applying stamps toenvelops mechanically.

The invention resides particularly in theprovision of a mechanism forperforming the desired functions necessary in the practical embodimentof a machine of the above type, and which mechanism has been designedwith a special view to simplicity and efliciency.

For a full understanding of the present invention, reference is to behad to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the invention, themajor port-ion of the figure being in section to bring out the interiorarrangement of parts; Fig. 2 is an end view showing the portion of thecasing carrying the plunger, in section; Fig. 8 is a horizontalsectional view taken about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is afragmentary sectional view showing the stamp delivery means arranged inthe position assumed thereby just as the stamp is being delivered andapplied to the envelop; Fig. 5

is a fragmentary sectional View taken about on the line 55 of Fig. 1;Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the moistening appliance; Fig. 7 is atransverse section of the stamp delivery guide member; Fig. 8 is afragmentary view showing the operating handle and pointer associatedtherewith, whereby the feeding dogs are reversed.

Throughout the following detail description and on the several figuresof the drawings similar parts are referred to by like referencecharacters.

Specifically describing the preferred em 7 bodiment of the invention, 1denotes a suitable casing adapted to inclose the stamps and the deliverymechanism therefor, said casing being provided with a door 2 at oneside, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, said door being preferably hinged atits lower end so that it may be readily opened to permit Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911. Serial No. 603,744.

of access to the mechanism of the machine for any desired purpose and tofacilitate the placing of the rolls or ribbons of stamps in place.

At one end of the casing 1 is provided an 0 extension 1 in which ismounted the vertically movable plunger 3, normally held at the upperlimit of its movement by means of a coiled spring 4. The lower end ofthe plunger. 3 carries a head 5 designed to en- 5 gage the stampdelivered by the machine by depression of the plunger and to apply thestamp by pressure to an envelop 6 when the latter is placed in theposition shown in Fig. 4. The plunger 3 has rigidly secured thereto acarrier frame comprising a horizontal arm 7 and a vertical arm 8projecting downwardly from the arm 7 intermediate its ends. Supported atthe lower end of the vertical arm 8 is a horizontal guide member 9, theupper and lower sides of which constitute guides in contact with whichthe stamps fed in separate ribbons 10 and 11 are adapted to operate.

.The ribbons of stamps shown at 10 and 11 30 are adapted to unwind fromrolls 12- and .13 respectively, the post offices at the present timesupplying these stamps in rolls of five hundred or more. The guidemember 9 is provided upon its upper and lower surfaces 35 withlongitudinal ribs 9 and in order to hold the stamps in close contactwith the ribbed surfaces of the guide member, spring tapes 14 aresecured to the guide member on its upper and lower sides and cooperatewith the longitudinal edge portions of the stamp' ribbons to hold thelatter in operative contact with the guide member 9 as above mentioned.

Peculiar actuating means for delivering the stamps by movement of one orthe other of the ribbons 10 and 11 is provided and consists primarily ofan operating lever 15 the upper end of which is pivoted to a stud 16projectin laterally from the upper end :of the arm of the carrier frame.At its lower end, the lever 15 is provided with a cam slot 16 ofsome-what L-shaped form and through the slot 16 projects a pin 17rigidly secured to a side of the casing as shown in Fig. 3. The pin 17cooperateswith the slot 16 of the lever 15 to cause the lever to movetoward the plunger, as the lever is carried downwardly with the carrierframe, on depression of said plunger. Also projecting laterally from thelever 15 are the pivot members 18 arranged above and below the guidemember 9, said pivot members carrying the feed dogs 19, there being aset of feed dogs 19 above the actuating member 9 and a separate setbelow the guide member 9. The feed dogs 19 are preferably provided in asuitable member so arranged that the pointed extremities of the dogsadjacent to the arm 8 of the carrier frame will be adapted to engage inthe perforations separating the stamps of the ribbons 10 and 11 and bysuch engagement to feed the stamps forward to the plunger whenlongitudinal movement of the dogs 19 is imparted thereto, with relationto the guide member 9. Such movement is effected by downward movement ofthe plunger 3. Since the carrier frame supporting the stamp feedingmechanism moves with the plunger 3 it will be apparent that downwardmotion of the plunger will impart the same movement to the operatinglever 15. As the latter moves downwardly, the cooperation of the stud 17with the cam slot 16 imparts to the operating lever a pivotal movement,carrying the lower portion of the latter in the direction of theplunger. In this manner, the set of dogs 19 adjusted to engage one ofthe stamp ribbons 10 and 11 will be moved longitudinally along the guide9 toward the plunger and by engagement with a predetermined series oftransverse perforations in the stamp ribbon 10, or 11 as the case maybe, a single stamp will be fed forward from the guide 9 through thedelivery slot or opening 20 of the casing 1 and into a position beneaththe head 5 of the plunger 3.

The plunger 3 carries a knife 21 pivoted at one end to a stationarycutter plate 22 secured to the head 5 of the plunger. The opposite endof the knife 21 is free and adapted to engage with a base plate 23carried by the casing 1 to receive thereon the envelop to which thestamp is to be applied. *At the beginning of the downward movement ofthe plunger 3, the knife 21 remains inoperative since the free end ofthe knife is spaced from the plate 23. During the preliminary movementof the plunger 3, the operating lever 15 is actuated to deliver thestamp beneath the head 5 and during the final downward movement of theplunger, the free end of the knife 21 contacts with the plate 23 causingcooperation of the knife 21 with the cutter plate 22 to sever the stampfrom the ribbon, said severed stamp being applied to the previouslyarranged envelop just as said stamp is finally separated from theribbon. A spring 24L causes the necessary shearing cooperation of theknife 21 and cutter plate 22.

It is contemplated that stamps of one denomination shall be deliveredfrom the roll 12 and stamps of a different denomination from the roll 13or the rolls could be supplied with stamps of the same denomination. Oneset of dogs 19 only cooperates with the guide 9 at one time. Should. theoperator of the machine desire to apply a two-cent stamp of the ribbon10, the upper set of dogs 19 would be held in operative contact withsaid ribbon to secure the desired feeding and delivering movement. If aone-cent stamp from the ribbon 11 is desired to be applied, however, theoperator by operating suitable meitns throws the upper set of dogs 19upwardly out of engagement with respect to the ribbon 10 andsimultaneously moves the lower set of dogs 19 into engagement with theribbon 11. The means for accomplishing the above includes a rotatablesleeve 25 passing through a slot 25 mounted on the stud 16 at the upperend of the arm 7 of the carrier frame which sleeve is provided at itsouter end with a knurled handle 26 and is formed also, within thecasing, with an L-shaped arm 27. The arm 27 engages with a bifurcatedextension 28 projecting fro-m the upper end of a link 29, which hasloose pivotal connection at 30 with the stud 16. The lower end of thelink 29 is pivotally connected at 31 to a bracket 32, the latter beingpivoted in turn on the lever 15 as shown at 33.

Pins 3i project from the bracket 32, said pins being engageable with theadjacent ends of the dogs 19. Obviously, if the handle 26 is turned anupward or downward movement may be imparted to the link 29 and a slightpivotal movement of the bracket 32 thus caused. The pivotal movement ofthe bracket 32 is adapted to engage one of its pins 34 with one set ofdogs 19 to throw the latter out of cooperation with the adjacent stampribbon and simultaneously disengage the other pin 3a of the bracket fromthe other set of dogs 19, whereby the latter will be free to move intoengagement with the stamp ribbon adjacent thereto. Springs 35 areconnected with the sets of dogs 19 and normally tendto force said dogsinto engagement with the stamp ribbons. On the side of the casing 1 maybe provided markings or indicia at 36 associated with a pointer 37 onthe sleeve 25, whereby the operator of the machine may know when hethrows the dogs engaging the one and twocent stamp ribbons into or outof cooperation therewith. It is intended, of course, to provide theribbons or stamps of any denomination, and furthermore, the invention isnot limited to the specific mechanical arrangement of parts hereinbeforereferred to, but may be modified within the spirit and scope of theclaims hereafter appended.

A suitable register shown at 38 may be employed and an actuating arm 39thereof connected by a link 10 to the lever 15 so that every time thelever 15 is oscillated by depressing and releasing the plunger 3, theregister 38 will record the operation.

The moistening means for the envelop preferably comprises a cup orreceptacle 41 adapted to receive absorbent material 42, a moistening arm43 and moistening supply means 44 being associated with the receptacle41 and the arm 43 extending over the plate 23 so that the envelop to bestamped may be readily moistened before being placed beneath the plunger3 to receive the stamp.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a stamp afixing machine, the conibination of guide means embodyinga plurality of guides, means for supplying stamps to said guides, meansfor affixing the stamps to envelops, separate devices for feeding thestamps from the guides to the aflixing means, and a single meanscooperating with said feeding devices for throwing one or the other ofsaid feeding devices into cooperation with an adjacent guide.

2. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of guide means embodyinga plurality of guides, means for supplying stamps to said guides, meansfor affixing the stamps to envelops, separate devices for feeding thestamps from the guides to the affixing means, and means for throwing oneof the feeding devices into cooperation with an adjacent guide, andsimultaneously throwing the other feeding device out of cooperation withthe adjacent guide for controlling the feeding of the stamps along saidguides.

3. In a stamp affixing machine, the coinbination of a plunger foraffixing the stamps, guides along which the stamps are adapted to be fedto the plunger, separate feeding devices associated with the separateguides for engagement with the stamps to feed the same to the plunger,and a single means for causing cooperation of either feeding de vicewith its adjacent guide and for throwing said feeding devices out ofcooperation with the guides to render the feeding mechanism inoperative.

4. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of a stamp affixingplunger, stamp guides for supplying separate ribbons of stamps to theplunger, separate feeding devices cooperating with the guides andadapted to cooperate with the separate ribbons of stamps, means normallytending to force said feeding devices into engagement with the stampribbons, and adjusting mechanism for simultaneously throwing one feedingdevice into engagement with the adjacent stamp ribbon, and the otherfeeding device out of engagement with its adjacent stamp ribbon.

5. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of a stamp affixingplunger, stamp guides for supplying separate ribbons of stamps to theplunger, separate feeding devices cooperating with the guides andadapted to cooperate with separate ribbons of stamps, means normallytending to force said feeding devices into engagement with the stampribbons, a casing inclosing the feeding mechanism, and an adjustingdevice operable from the exterior of the casing to control thecooperation of the respective feeding devices with the stamp ribbons.

6. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of a casing, a stampaffixing plunger mounted therein, a carrier frame movable with saidplunger, a guide member supported by the carrier frame, and meansmounted on the carrier frame for feeding stamps along said guide memberto the stamp affixing plunger.

7. In a stamp afiixing machine, the combination of a casing, a stampaffixing plunger mounted therein, a carrier frame movable with saidplunger, a guide member supported by the carrier frame, and meansmounted on the carrier frame and movable simultaneously with the plungerto feed stamps along the guide member to the plunger.

8. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of a casing, a stampafiixing plunger mounted therein, a carrier frame movable with saidplunger, a guide member supported by the carrier frame, an operatinglever mounted on the carrier frame and movable therewith, a feedingdevice carried by said lever and coacting with the guide member to feedthe stamps to the plunger, and means on the casing for imparting feedingmovement to the operating lever and feeding device as the plunger isactuated.

9. In a stamp afiixing machine, the combination of a casing, a stampaffixing plunger mounted therein, a carrier frame movable with saidplunger, a guide member supported by the carrier frame, and meansmounted on the carrier frame for feeding stamps along said guide memberto the stamp affixing plunger, and an adjusting device for throwing thefeeding device into and out of cooperation with the guide member andcarried by the carrier frame.

10. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of a casing, a plungermounted therein, a carrier frame supported by and movable with theplunger, a guide member secured to said frame, stamp supply means tosupply stamps to said guide member, feed means for said stampscomprising an operating lever, pivotally mounted on the carrier frame,means for imparting feeding movement to the operating lever on actuationof the plunger, a feeding device carried by the operating lever forcooperation with the guide, and adjustable means on the carrier framecoacting with the feeding device to throw the same into and out ofcooperation with the guide member.

11. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination of a casing, a plungermounted therein, a carrier frame supported by and movable with theplunger, a guide member secured to said frame, stamp supply means tosupply stamps to said guide member, feed means for said stampscomprising an operating lever, pivotally mounted on the carrier frame,means for imparting feeding movement to the operating lever on actuationof the plunger, a feeding device carried by the operating lever forcooperation with the guide, adjustable means on the carrier framecoacting with the feeding device to throw the same into and out ofcooperation with the guide member, the latter consisting of a bracketpivoted to the operating lever, a link connected with said bracket, andwith the carrier frame, and an adjusting sleeve for actuating the linkto impart movement to the bracket, and a pin carried by the bracket toengage the feeding device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EVERETT J. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G.

